Methods and apparatus for enhancement of live events broadcast by superimposing animation, based on real events

Abstract

An icon representing a virtual player is displayed on a television screen, together with a real player in a current live event so that the progress of the real player can be compared by a viewer against the progress of the icon which can represent a previous performance.

1 . A method of displaying an animated graphics or icon on a television screen to be seen by a viewer when the viewer is viewing an event, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) calculating the position with time of a player in a previous event to be represented by the animated graphics or icon in each of a plurality of defined time intervals,    b) generating a video overlay based on the calculated position at data in step b) in which said animated graphics or icon appears in the position of the player to be inserted at said defined intervals,    c) overlaying said video display on to a further event of the same type as said first event to enable the progress of real players in the further event to be continuously compared against the progress of the players represented by the animated graphics or icon in the previous event.    
     
     
         2 . A method of displaying an animated graphics or icon on a television screen as claimed in    claim 1    in which said calculation of the position of the animated graphics or icon in step a) comprises the step of mapping the present course or stadium in screen coordinates.  
     
     
         3 . A method of displaying an animated graphics or icon on a television screen as claimed in    claim 1    or    claim 2    in which the generation of the video display in step b) comprises the step of mapping the player on to a course to be subsequently followed by real players in coordinates.  
     
     
         4 . A method of displaying an animated graphics or icon on a television screen as claimed in any one of    claims 1    to    3    in which this method comprises the steps of transforming the world coordinates to screen coordinates during the live event and to overlay the position of the player on to the screen coordinates in accordance with the camera field of view for comparison with the real objects present on the course.  
     
     
         5 . A method of displaying an animated graphics or icon on a television screen as claimed in any one of    claims 1    to    4    in which the speed of the icon during the event can be controlled to, for example, conform to the movement of the player thereby giving the players speed.  
     
     
         6 . The present invention provides apparatus displaying an animated graphics or icon on a television screen to be seen by a viewer when the viewer is viewing an event, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) means for calculating the position with time of a player in a previous event to be represented by the animated graphics or icon in each of a plurality of defined time intervals,    b) means for generating a video overlay based on the calculated position at data in step b) in which said animated graphics or icon appears in the position of the player to be inserted at said defined intervals,    c) means for overlaying said video display on to a further event of the same type as said first event to enable the progress of real players in the further event to be continuously compared against the progress of the players represented by the animated graphics or icon in the previous event.    
     
     
         7 . A method of displaying an animated graphics or icon on a television screen as claimed in any one of    claims 1    to    6    in which the animated graphics or the icon can then be superimposed over the current video image using, for example, chroma key or difference key techniques.